by Robert Boren
“You’re welcome, sir,” she said as she left his office.
He took another bite from his danish, and then was startled by a loud crash. A brick flew through his window from the lawn in front of the Texas State Capitol building. He dropped his danish and got out from behind his chair as Maria rushed in.
“My God, what was that?” Maria asked.
“Somebody just threw a brick,” he said, rushing to the window. There was a large group of people holding signs on the lawn below. A rock flew towards him and crashed through another window.
“Get back, sir!” Maria cried.
He glanced at her and backed away as another rock flew in. “Geez, what’s with these people?”
“That brick has a note tied to it, sir.”
He looked at it, sitting next to shards of glass on the rug. “So it does.” He picked it up and carried it to his desk, turning the note over and reading it aloud. “Your border policy caused the deaths of eight DPS officers. Their blood is on your hands. You will pay.”
“I’ll go get Chief Ramsey on the phone,” she said, rushing out to her desk.
Hendrix got back into his chair and took another bite of danish, washing it down with a big gulp of coffee.
“Line two, sir,” Maria called out.
“Thank you, Maria,” Kip said. He picked up the receiver and pushed the second button. “Chief Ramsey?”
“Good morning, Kip,” Chief Ramsey said. “What can I do for you?”
“There’s an angry mob outside my office window. They’ve tossed a brick and a couple of rocks up here. The brick has a note with a death threat on it.”
“I heard there were demonstrators out there. We’ve already got a group of officers on their way. You say you got a death threat? What did it say?”
Kip read it to him.
“Okay, that’s serious enough to do something about. Don’t get rid of it. I’ll send a detective over right away.”
“Thank you, Chief.”
“No problem,” he said. “You should lock your office door. Never know how crazy people are gonna get.”
“Good advice,” Hendrix said. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”
“Talk to you later.”
“Maria?”
“Yes sir,” she said, appearing in the doorway.
“Chief Ramsey suggested we lock the door to the office. Oh, and there’s a detective coming to look at the note.”
“I’ll lock the doors and watch for the detective,” she said.
“Thanks, Maria,” Hendrix said. He looked at her a little too long, making her uncomfortable. She got out of his sight quickly.
Hendrix went back to his desk. He could hear the crowd chanting outside.
No submission, no sharia!
“Knuckle draggers,” he muttered.
“Jerry Sutton on line one,” Maria called out.
“Thanks,” he said, picking up the receiver and punching the first button.
“Got that position paper ready yet, Jerry?”
“Almost,” he said. “The crazies are out this morning.”
“Yeah, they threw some stuff through my windows.”
“Uh oh. You weren’t hurt, I hope.”
“Nah, I’m fine,” he said. “What’s up?”
“I had a thought. Maybe we ought to hold a press conference on this.”
“Interesting idea,” Hendrix said. “When?”
“How about tonight? About five? That ought to get you on the news tonight with some positive comments.”
“Okay, I’ll have Maria set it up,” he said. “Find out anything on those vigilantes?”
“Not yet,” he said. “I’m working on the position paper first.”
“Don’t forget about it,” Hendrix said. “We can’t have those rednecks driving around killing people.”
“Understand, boss,” Sutton said. “I’ll get on it later this morning.”
“Good,” Kip said. “Talk to you later.” He ended the call, finished his danish, and drank the rest of his coffee. Then he got up and walked out to Maria’s station, eyeing her back before she noticed him.
“Oh, Mr. Hendrix,” she said. “Can I help you with something?”
“I came out to get more coffee,” he said.
“I could have brought that in to you,” she said.
“No need,” he said, pouring himself a cup. “Oh, and would you schedule a press conference for this afternoon at 5:00, please?”
“Sure,” she said. “In the downstairs pressroom, right?”
“That would be fine. Notify the usual people.”
“I’ll get right on it, sir,” she said. He nodded and went back to his office, taking one last look at her as he walked through the door. She noticed.
Chapter 26 – Morning at Hog Run
“It’s time to wake up, daddy,” Chelsea said, jumping on the bed. Jason smiled at her, still groggy.
“Did mommy send you in here?”
“No, I sent me in here,” she said. “We’re going swimming, remember?”
“Well, yes, but daddy needs coffee and breakfast first. Now scat so I can get dressed.”
She giggled and ran out of the bedroom. Jason closed the sliding door, got dressed, and headed outdoors. Carrie and Kate were sitting on chairs, talking in the morning sun.
“Well look who’s finally up,” Carrie said.
“Looks like I beat Kyle at least,” he said, sitting down.
“Speak of the devil,” Kate said, turning around. Kyle walked up in gym shorts and a battered t-shirt. “You’re not dressed yet?”
“I’ll get dressed in a minute. No coffee going yet?”
“When we’re on the road that’s Jason’s department,” Carrie said.
“Daddy, I’m hungry,” Chelsea said, rushing back into the coach.
Jason grinned. “Man, I’m getting it from all sides.” He followed Chelsea into the motor home.
“Is my cereal here?” Chelsea asked.
“Of course,” he said, getting it out of the cupboard. He fixed her a bowl and set it in front of her.
“Thanks, daddy,” she said.
Jason came out and went to the rear storage compartment. He grabbed a folding table.
“Camp coffee!” Kyle said, going over to help him set up. They put the folding table near the back of the coach and set a Coleman stove on top.
“Not dressed yet, eh,” Jason said. “She give you a workout last night?”
“Yeah,” he said. “You didn’t hear us, did you? We were trying to be quiet.”
Jason laughed. “I was sound asleep right after my head hit the pillow.”
“Good. We gonna research that Imam today?”
“Don’t make a big deal out of that,” Jason said. “It’ll scare the women.”
“I won’t hide what we’re doing from Kate,” he said. “I like her, and I’m not going to blow it.”
“We’ll see.” Jason grinned, and Kyle elbowed him.
“She’s a good one, Jason. Seriously.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said. “I need to get the coffee pot.” He went into the coach. Carrie got up and followed him.
“So what was that all about?” Carrie asked. “I saw you two whispering by the table.”
Jason glanced at her, then got the coffee pot and the can of coffee out of the cupboard above the sink. He spooned coffee into the percolator basket.
“Jason!”
“I told you we’d talk about everything,” Jason said, looking at her. “Don’t worry. We’re going to research that Imam and investigate his associates. That’s all.”
“Then why were you whispering?”
“I was messing with Kyle. I asked him if Kate wore him out last night.”
“Oh,” she said. “Did she?”
“Apparently,” Jason said.
“Hey, don’t make that too strong. The percolator tends that way already.”
“Shoot,” he said, dumping the basket back into the coffee can. “Lost co
unt of the scoops.”
Both of them laughed. Jason started over, putting twelve tablespoons in the basket. Then he assembled the percolator and went back outside, Carrie on his heels.
“Where’d Kyle go?” Jason asked.
“I shamed him into getting dressed,” Kate said.
“I’m already done,” Kyle said, walking out in a t-shirt and shorts. He joined Jason by the table, watching as he got the stove lit and put the coffee pot on the burner.
“They’re so domestic,” Kate said to Carrie. They giggled as the men came back to the chairs.
“What’s so funny?” Jason asked.
“Oh, nothing,” Carrie said. “You don’t have to do everything, you know.”
“All I did was make coffee and feed Chelsea,” Jason said. “Oh, and Dingo.”
“Where is that dog, anyway?” Kate asked.
“Sleeping in the sun, on the driver’s seat,” Jason said.
“Daddy, I want to watch cartoons,” Chelsea said, walking out of the coach.
“Here’s where you learn what boondocking means,” Jason said. “It means we have to find things to do that don’t take electricity.”
“Oh,” she said. “But how do we have fun?”
“Tell you what,” Carrie said. “I’ll get your play-doh set out, okay?”
“Okay,” she said.
Jason got up and pulled the other folding table out, setting it under the awning next to the door of the motor home, then pulled a chair up. “Here you go.”
Carrie came over with a box of play-doh stuff.
“Can you play with me, mommy?” she asked.
“Of course,” she said, moving her chair next to the table. Kate did the same.
“See, here’s where you can do something.” Jason laughed.
“Maybe this is a good time to call Curt,” Kyle said.
“Yeah,” Jason said. “Think he knows about my folks yet? It’s gonna be hard to break it to him if he doesn’t.”
“It was all over the news,” Kyle said.
“Yeah, but you know Curt.”
“Good point.”
“If you’re going to invite him here, tell him he’s got to watch his language around Chelsea,” Carrie said.
“Okay,” Jason said. “Maybe we ought to move a little further away from you for this call.”
“Yeah,” Kyle said. They picked up their chairs and moved them on the far side of Kate’s trailer.
Kyle pulled his phone out and hit Curt’s contact. It rang several times.
“What do you want, pencil neck?” a gruff voice said.
“Curt, buddy,” Kyle said. “Got you on speaker. Jason’s here too.”
“Two pencil necks,” he said. “What are you panty-waists up to?”
“That isn’t nice,” Jason said. “Where are you? Sounds like there’s a stream running next to you.”
“I’m sitting in a sand chair, sunk into the bank of the Llano River,” he said. “Fishing, but ain’t catching shit. Where you?”
“The hog blind,” Kyle said. “By the pool.”
“What are you doing there in the middle of the week?” Curt asked.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Kyle said.
“I got suspended,” Curt said. “Finally punched my captain. I think my days on the San Antonio PD are finished.”
“Good, maybe Peterson will hire you back onto the Austin force,” Kyle said.
“Peterson? Since when could that putz hire anybody?”
“Since he became Assistant Chief,” Kyle said.
“Really? Well, I’m not ready to suit up just yet,” Curt said. “Hanging by the river in my toy hauler is just fine for now. No TV, no radio, no internet. I’ve gone back to nature.”
“Shit, you don’t know what’s been going on, do you?” Kyle asked.
“Heard some crap about California from some other fishermen yesterday. That what you’re talking about?”
Jason and Kyle looked at each other, Jason’s eyes tearing up.
“Cat got your tongue?” Curt asked.
“We got into the middle of a terror attack in Dripping Springs,” Kyle said.
“No shit,” he said. “Where?”
“The Superstore,” Jason said. “We creamed them. Killed all of them.”
“You and who else?” Curt asked.
“Citizens,” Kyle said. “Some of your redneck buddies.”
“You mean Kelly and his guys?” Curt asked.
“Yeah,” Kyle said. “Also Carrie and my new girlfriend Kate, and a few Dripping Springs deputies.”
“Holy shit,” Curt said. “That isn’t all, is it?”
“Some Islamists came for revenge afterwards,” Kyle said. “Attacked some of the citizens. Tried to attack Kelly and his friends, too, but that didn’t go well for them.”
“I’ll bet,” Curt said. “Those guys are tough.”
“Yeah, well they attacked Jason at his house, too,” Kyle said. “Chief Ramsey put us on paid leave, so we split.”
“You don’t sound right,” Curt said. “What else happened?”
“They found Jason’s parents and killed them both. Chopped their heads off,” Kyle said. Jason was crying, and there was silence on Curt’s end. Then they could hear him sobbing.
“Dammit,” Curt said. “I’m so sorry, Jason.”
“I know,” he said. “I can’t believe they’re gone.”
There was silence for a few moments.
“What are you guys gonna do?” Curt asked.
“Find the assholes responsible and stop their clocks,” Kyle said. “Interested?”
“Hell yeah,” Curt said. “Take me a day or two to get there.”
“One thing,” Jason said. “Carrie made me promise. We’ve got Chelsea with us, so you got to watch your language, okay?”
“Sure, no problem,” he said.
“Oh, and one other thing. Eric’s on his way.”
“Good,” Curt said. “Haven’t seen him in quite a while. He’s good in a fight.”
“Yeah, well you two will need to keep it together,” Jason said. “You can get a little over-zealous when your blood’s up.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Curt said. “I’m bringing a new toy with me. You guys will like it.”
“I can only imagine,” Kyle said.
“Better get ready to leave. See you soon.”
“All right, Curt,” Jason said. “Take care of yourself.”
“Yeah, man,” Kyle said. He ended the call. “You okay, Jason?”
“It is what it is,” Jason said, rubbing the tears out of his eyes. “I’ll be okay.”
They picked up their chairs and walked back to the women and Chelsea.
Chapter 27 – Kelly and Brenda
Kelly woke up in Brenda’s bed when the morning sun shone through the window. She was snoring softly, her naked back against him. He turned on his back and stretched. Brenda stirred, turning to face him, still under the covers. He grinned at her.
“You don’t have to look so self-satisfied,” she said.
“Why not?” he asked. “No place I’d rather be than right here.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” she said, sitting up in bed, sheet falling from her full breasts. He eyed them. “No way, I have to get to work.”
“Just a few minutes,” he said, moving close to her. She sighed and snaked her arms around his neck, her leg going over his hip, pulling him close.
“Oh, all right,” she said softly. They came together again in passion even more intense than the night before. Brenda was beside herself. They finished out of breath, laying on their backs.
“Wow,” Kelly said.
“That was more than a few minutes. I’ve got to get up.” She rolled out of bed on unsteady legs. “Geez, I’m not used to this anymore.”
Kelly watched her, then climbed out of bed. “You’ll get used to it,” he said. “I’ll make sure of that.”
She smirked and put on her clothes, wa
tching Kelly get dressed, a look close to reverence on her face. When he noticed she turned away quickly.
“It’s okay,” he said.
“What’s okay?”
“It’s okay to fall for me,” he said. “I can tell. You don’t think I feel that way too?”
“Give it a little time, okay?” She walked out of her room and into the kitchen.
Kelly finished getting dressed and joined her after a few minutes.
“I just put the coffee on,” she said.
“Anything I can help with?” he asked.
“Not really,” she said. There was a knock on the front door. It startled both of them.
“What the hell?” Kelly said, reaching for his pistol.
“Be careful,” Brenda said as she watched him walk to the door. He looked out the window and then put his pistol away.
“It’s just Junior,” he said.
“Figures. I’m going to get ready for opening. Don’t serve him anything, okay? I don’t want to lose my license.”
“Gotcha,” he said, opening the door. “What the hell are you doing here so early?”
Junior walked in, grim look on his face.
“Oh, shit, something else happen?” Kelly asked.
Brenda came out into the bar. “What’s going on?”
“The God-damned Islamists captured eight DPS Patrol Boat officers on Falcon Lake and beheaded them. Then they put a video of it out on YouTube.”
“No,” Brenda said, trembling.
“Son of a bitch,” Kelly said, face red with anger. “The DPS get them yet?”
“No,” Junior said. “Lot of rumors on the internet. It happened on the Mexican shore. The DPS was there trying to stop some huge barges from bringing Islamists and Venezuelans across the border.”
“That’s not good,” Kelly said.
“No, it’s not,” Junior said, sitting down on a bar stool. “This is getting way outta hand.”
“I see somebody looking in the window,” Brenda said, worried look on her face.
Kelly and Junior pulled their pistols and rushed to the door, peering out the window. The man saw them and smiled. He knocked on the door. Kelly opened it, gun still in his hand.
“We know you?”
“You Kelly?” the man asked. He was a large man wearing western garb complete with cowboy hat.
“Who wants to know?” Kelly asked.